German robotics firm KUKA will release a movie today at the opening of its new factory in Shanghai, China, pitting European table-tennis master Timo Boll waging war against KUKA's "KR Agilus" robot.

According to the company, it is a fight that "celebrates the inherent speed, precision, and flexibility of KUKA's industrial robots in tandem with Boll's electrifying and tactical prowess in competition".

If machinery can beat the world's best human player at table tennis, how long before they unite to crush our puny civilisations?

The match has already been played, so let's hope our human representative at least put up a good fight.